CANADA'S ATTITUDE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 50, 27 August 1925, Page 4

CANADA'S ATTITUDE

HER PROBLEMS SKETCHED

RELATIONS WITH AMERICA.

The attitude of Canada in regard to Empire affairs and her relations with America were.ably explained by Mr. J. Bassett, of the "Montreal Gazette," at the dinner tendered last m'g'ht to the visiting Empire Press Union delegates.

Speaking of the loyalty of the Dominions to the Mother Country, he said that the people of Canada needed no lesson in devotion to the Crown and the Constitution. (Hear, hear.) Great Britain was the cradle of their destinies, for they had sprung from her loins. He had gathered from conversations with members of the Press delegation that Canada had come under suspicion in the matter of her relations with the Empire. Her proximity to the United States; her hike-warmness, perhaps, in the matter of contributions to nav.il defence; and her desire to sign her own treaty and to have an Ambassador at Washington had been interpreted by some zealots in Empire doctrine as indir eating that they were forsaking the paths their forefathers had trodden. He gave, the assurance, however, that the central thought dominating their political actions since the Great War had been the cultivation of peace above all things with their American friends. For over a hundred years along .3000 miles of border there had not been a gun or a fort, and the only thing feared so far as Canada was concerned was the invasion of spirituous liquors. (Laughter.) The Canadians felt that they - were perhaps best qualified to interpret the attitude of the Commonwealth of British 1 nations to the United States, and that of the United States to the Commonwealth' of British nations. "Will I surprise yon," asked Mr. Bassett, "if I tell you that it was a Canadian Prime Minister who in 1921, at the Imperial Conference, was primarily responsible for the non-renewal of the Anglo-Japa-nese Alliance? He discovered that th,at alliance was formerly effective on account of the menace against Japan from Russia and against ourselves from Germany. In 1921 he discovered that this menace had been removed, and that for the Anglo-Japanese Alliance to be renewed would be pointing at the United States. You may doubt the wisdom of that action, but at least it removed from the people of the United States any suspicion as to our attitude towards her."

MUTUAL SYMPATHY

Mr. Bassett went on to refer to the visit of the American fleet to New Zealand, and said that Canada had been pleased with the wonderful reception accorded the men of the United States. That visit, he taid, was a gracefully sincere act of friendship on the part of the American nation. He made no apology, he proceeded, for the part she was endeavouring to play in world politics. They might make mistakes, but it should not be forgotten in New Zealand that we were not the only people ■who were faced with problems. New Zealand's problem might be one of isolation; that of Canada was that of contiguity with one of the richest nations in the world. They must seek capital in New York for tho development of their vast resources, and he noted that Australia had been obliged to. do the same.

So far as relations between Canada and New Zealand were concerned, he said,, they wanted to do business with us, as with other units of the Empire. In this connection he alluded to the treaty effected in the course of the last session of the Canadian Parliament between Canada and Australia. They had no jealousy in their minds towards the progress of New Zealand, and they felt rather like a big brother towards this Dominion.' There was room in tho world for both of them, and Canada wanted New Zealand to look sympathetically upon her problems, and to look with sympathy upon the problems of New Zealand.